One in 10 internet users a victim of fraud

Tweet

This is some information I have got from news More than one in 10 internet users was a victim of online fraud last year The 3.5 million people who experienced online fraud lost an average of £875 each, according to research backed by the Government and internet industry. Many of the victims had failed to take basic precautions - such as installing up to date internet security software or using different passwords for different sites. Most claimed that banks, stores or internet companies were responsible for stopping fraudsters. The report, titled Internet Safety: The State of the Nation, was commissioned by the Government and the Get Safe Online campaign. It found that 12 per cent of internet users had experienced fraud last year. Six per cent of internet users, or 1.7 million people, suffered fraud shopping online, while four per cent (or 1.2 million) were victims of bank account or credit card fraud. The rise in fraud reflects the increasing use of the internet in Britain. The report found that 93 per cent of people with access to the internet used it daily, spending an average of £1,044 per year on goods and services. The report found that many people were leaving themselves vulnerable. The typical internet user now has nine different passwords to sites including online banking, internet shopping sites and "social networks". However, five per cent admitted that they used one password for all sites, while 60 per cent said some passwords were the same. About 45 per cent said their passwords were made up only of real words, which are the most easily cracked by criminals. A quarter of people said they did not have anti-spam software. One in five said they had replied to spam, or junk email, messages asking them to be removed from internet mailing lists. According to Get Safe Online, replying to spam is a mistake because it confirms that your email address is active. The report found that 46 per cent did not have anti-spyware, while seven per cent had no anti-virus software. Around 13 per cent of users did not use a firewall - software that prevents access by outsiders. Twelve per cent of users said their home wireless internet connection had no password protection, allowing anyone in the street to use the home's internet service, and take control of a computer. Just 48 per cent of internet users said they were responsible for their own online safety. Sixteen per cent believed their bank was responsible for their online protection, while 13 per cent felt it was up to their internet service provider. If we all take greater care to protect our personal information online, we can reduce the majority of these criminal activities, my message is that each one of us has to take greater personal responsibility for our own online security U can get more tips and advice about online safety at www.getsafeonline.org